Coach Nagelsmann: ‘Germany Gave Hungary Too Many Corners Compared to Their Strength’
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Despite Germany securing a spot in the Round of 16 after their victory over Hungary, coach Julian Nagelsmann still wants Germany to defeat Switzerland in their final group stage match at Euro 2024 to maintain their position at the top of Group A.
The German national team officially booked their place in the Round of 16 at Euro 2024 with a 2-0 win over Hungary. However, coach Julian Nagelsmann remains not entirely satisfied. He wants Die Nationalmannschaft to secure all 3 points in their final match against Switzerland to finish first in Group A, thereby avoiding stronger opponents in the Round of 16.
This would give Germany a significant advantage in their quest to win the Euro 2024 title on home soil. Nagelsmann shared with the media after the Hungary victory at Stuttgart Arena: “I am pleased with this result, but it was a tough match. We want to top the group because we want to win every match.”
“Afterwards, we will see who our next opponent will be in the knockout stage because we cannot influence the results of the other groups,” Nagelsmann added.
The German coach also assessed the match against Hungary as challenging due to their resilience: “We gave them too many corner kicks relative to their abilities. We had to survive some dangerous situations but also created enough chances to score.”
“In the second half, we managed the game quite well. Space was very tight, so ball speed was crucial. When we scored the second goal, we did well to prevent their counterattacks,” Nagelsmann commented.
Nagelsmann also acknowledged the special feeling of coaching the German national team in a major European championship on home soil: “I never imagined what it would be like to coach a national team at a major tournament. It truly is a special feeling and has a powerful impact on you.”
Despite securing victory through goals from Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gundogan, vulnerabilities in Germany’s defense were exposed, which could potentially be exploited by stronger opponents. The final group stage match for Die Nationalmannschaft is against Switzerland in Frankfurt on June 24th, a match that will decide the winner of Group A at Euro 2024.
For Nagelsmann, Germany’s qualification for the Round of 16 also means that his contract with the German national team is officially valid until 2026. The former Bayern Munich coach extended his contract earlier this year, with the number of years depending on Germany’s performance at Euro 2024.
